Are Arsenal and Chelsea already playing for 2nd?

There's no doubt that Arsenal v Chelsea is the big game this weekend in the English Premier League - that's why it's on a Monday night so that people living in the US (me) can watch it at work. I'd rather be in the pub, but it will be full of Arsenal and Chelsea fans. Back to the flask in the drawer I suppose.

But are these two already playing for second place? Manchester City look fantastic. They score so many goals that they can afford to give away comedy own goals like Vincent Kompany did against Fulham.

Here it is in case you haven't seen it enough...

Don't forget City are without Aguero right now, haven't even played Jovetic, are just getting Kompany back and are playing DeMicheles. They are fun to watch, unless your team is playing them and are going to take some stopping.

Arsenal have been fantastic, but may not be able to score enough goals once Giroud has a dry spell. Chelsea concede too many and have had a dry spell from their strikers all season.

Liverpool are buzzing after another great performance from Luis Suarez. They are not a one man team, and have Gerrard and Strurridge to return, but they won't be able to stop City from scoring. In fact, no team in the league will. And this kamikaze season of goals seems to be playing right into City's hands. If Joe Hart can't be relied on as much, just allow him one mistake a game, and then score 2 or more yourself (or about 6 based on current form!).

It's Ronaldinho's show today

The Brazilian leads his Atletico Mineiro side vs Raja Casablanca

Europeans may not care for the World Club Cup. South Americans don't salivate over it either but it's a rare occasion when they're in the spotlight when they make a final in this cash-cow tourney, currently being played in Morocco. Therefore, it's a chance to expand its brand and make some noise in the global football world.

Ronaldinho will look to add to his medals if his side can best the Moroccan hosts for a berth in Saturday's final against Bayern Munich. At 33, the buck-toothed one is still hoping his slim chances to join the national team for the World Cup next year increases with a top display and eventual move to another side in the new year.

Meanwhile, the Germans, sleptwalked their way past Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande and didn't even know Ronaldinho was involved in the tourney, according to Dante!

George Best knows how to do it right

It's holiday party time - and who knows how to do it better than George Best? Yes, he was a chronic alcoholic and probably wasted his talent, but he had fun doing it!

As Mr. Best once said...

"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."

So why did Spurs let him spend all the money?

There are a lot of average footballers in the picture above. But they cost well over $100 million, and are probably not as good combined as Gareth Bale was individually. Paulinho can play, Eriksen is very good, but Soldado has looked poor, Chadli is average, and Lamela must have a great agent - as he cost $40 million, yet isn't good enough for the bench? There's also two or three others that really haven't improved teh squad, let alone the team, so you have to question why they were bought.

AVB is not a bad manager, but he's been out of his depth at Chelsea and Spurs. He can't dominate a dressing room like his mentor Jose Mourinho, hasn't got enough experience to pull him through a tough period, but ultimately, didn't seem to have a plan B. Spurs got beaten at home by a poor West Ham team with no striker, were embarrassed away at Man City, and humiliated at home to Liverpool. He needed more time, but there weren't even signs he was getting his message/tactics across.

Players have to be accountable, and none of Spurs' players have been. If Andros Townsend is the bright spark this season, it's going to be a long time until May. But AVB didn't get the best out of them, and maybe Gareth Bale's magic lst year was simply papering over the cracks.

Who wants that job? I'm sure plenty of people do, but AVB may have to wait a while to get a position in England again - should he even want one.

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But let's not take anything away from Liverpool. They were outstanding - probably as good as they have been under Brendan Rodgers. He's had a bit of time, and is forming a team that competes - having Luis Suarez helps, he's a joy to watch, but it still brings a smile when he's kicked. It's nice to have a villain - and a good one at that.

Man City v Arsenal was a fantastic game of football unless you're a defender. There were so many chances that it could have been 11-8. It's not schoolboy football though, so both teams may have to tighten up if they are going to win the title. But I'm fine if they don't - watching a goal every 10 minutes is a great way to start the weekend.

It's better than watching West Ham v Sunderland or Hull v Stoke. Two awful games that show the gulf in quality between the top teams and the hangers-on. These 4 can't compete at the top, but they would all be lucky to be allowed into the Championship after this weekend's results.

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After Inter lost to Napoli on Sunday, I lost interest in the European review - there's only so many Rafa Benitez plaudits I can take. Real Madrid drew ("Nothing without Ronaldo"), Neymar scored a couple ("The Next Messi"), Juve won ("Tevez Wants Messi Role in Brazil"), Bayern Won ("Steak Extends to 76"), PSG won ("Made Up Headlines Continue")...

Arsenal and Man City need a first leg lead

To be played Feb. 18, 19, 25, 26 and March 11, 12, 18, 19

Manchester City	v	Barcelona
Olympiakos	v	Manchester United
AC Milan	v	Atletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen	v	Paris St Germain
Galatasaray	v	Chelsea
Schalke	v	Real Madrid
Zenit	v	Dortmund
Arsenal	v	Bayern

Who got a good draw? Who is regretting not winning their Group? And is Gonzalo Higuain still crying?!

Manchester City have a good chance against Barcelona in my opinion. Although Messi will be fit by February, so will Aguero. I think City will score home and away against Barcelona, and it will come down to who has a better defence. Kompany is the best defender on either team, although Pique runs him close. It's the others that offer opportunity, and Mascherano probably can't keep with the City players, although Martin Demichelis is a liability for City too - much depends on how few errors those two commit.

Manchester United will be happy, although David Moyes might now be. He's expected to guide his team past Olympiakos, but we all know he hasn't lived up to expectations yet.

Atletico Madrid will beat AC Milan. Why, Diego Costa is top notch. So is Super Mario, but Milan aren't playing well - although could be by February I suppose.

PSG v Leverkeusen. Have to take Zlatan, Cavani and the other superstars - especially as Manchester United put 5 past the Germans in Leverkeusen.

The Drogba tie. Galatasaray are a decent team, but Chelsea should win. But then there is the Didier Drogba factor. He'll probably score against his old team, and cry, and run to Jose Mourinho. But Chelsea are building a strong team, but they need a defender and a goalkeeper - Petr Cech isn't an accident waiting to happen, he's happened - and we're all still watching a laughing/crying.

Real will beat Schalke. Dortmund will beat Zenit. 2 easy ones!

Then there's Arsenal v Bayern Munich. A very tough draw for the English League leaders, but whoever got Bayern was going to struggle. They move the ball so quickly and a clinical. Arsenal need to bring in another striker (not a cup-tied one) and take their chances. They got schlapped by Manchester City at the weekend, but Olivier Giroud still should have had a hat-trick. He's not bad, but he doesn't finish enough key chances. If Arsenal just get one in Germany, they need to take it. Arsene Wenger will happily take any trophy this year, but Bayern are probably too strong for it to be the Champions League. The same as Manchester City, they need to be leading after the first leg.

Was Ashley Young a ball boy?

Has someone found a part-time job when not bench warming at Manchester United?

Maybe next year it won't matter as United won't be in the Champions League (!), but the ball boy gets a little carried away here - the ball wasn't even in front of the boards for him to grab and save David de Gea the 'effort' of walking 3 yards.

That said, give him a microphone wig and he'd be as good as Marouane Fellaini !

Red Bulls get Convey, fans shrug

Skeptical supporters hope MLS vet gets his act together 

With an impressive resume, Bobby Convey, a Philadelphia product, is now entering one of the toughest markets in the league, if not, the world.

Convey, 30, is a former national-team starter with the U.S., a veteran within MLS after being drafted at 17-years-old by D.C. United before moving on to England to play for Reading, then a Championship side prior to promotion to the Premier League. After that, he returned Stateside to bounce from San Jose Earthquakes to Sporting Kansas City to Toronto FC.

New York Red Bulls fans will certainly remember him, however, for his stint with San Jose for it was Convey that netted two goals in the Red Bulls' 3-1 loss in the second leg of their playoff series at Red Bull Arena in 2010.

Plus, there have been unconfirmed grumblings about his attitude within the locker room. Whether or not that's true, it's been kept in-house but appears to have lead to Convey's exit from his previous clubs since returning from Europe.

Convey is a versatile player and has played left back with San Jose but has mostly done his work in the middle of the park and along the wing but some of his crossings with Toronto will have to be worked on if he doesn't want to frustrate Thierry Henry & Co.

His work rate appears to be healthy. He'll get yet another chance within MLS to prove his approach and posture. The Red Bulls camp and manager Mike Petke's regime will be a test for him as the team looks to build depth for MLS and Champions League play. 

Will Convey be ready for the spotlight?